title: Effortful control, positive emotional expression, and behavior problems in children born preterm.
abstract: The present study focused on the role of high effortful control in the expression of positive emotion and development of behavior problems in children born preterm (mean gestational age = 31.4 weeks). Using data from a prospective longitudinal study, the present study assessed effortful control and behavior problems at 24 and 36 months and positive emotional expression at 24 months in a sample of 173 children born preterm. Less positive emotional expression was associated with higher effortful control for boys but not girls. Higher effortful control was associated with fewer total behavior problems, but this relation was attenuated when socioeconomic assets were included in the model. More socioeconomic assets were associated with fewer behavior problems for both boys and girls and higher effortful control for girls. Socioeconomic assets appear to be an important factor in the development of effortful control and behavior problems in children born preterm regardless of gender, whereas positive emotional expression was important for boys. Future intervention research should examine fostering adaptive levels of effortful control in high-risk populations as a means to facilitate resilience processes.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burnson
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poehlmann
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schwichtenberg
mesh_terms: D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Effortful control; Gender; Internalizing problems; Positive emotion; Preterm infants